Clean Energy Opens First LNG Station in Florida

Clean Energy Fuels announced the opening of the first LNG fueling station in Florida, as well as the opening of the company’s America’s Natural Gas Highway stations in Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Fontana, Calif., to fuel heavy-duty natural gas trucks. The company also announced select deals in the transit and refuse sectors building on its portfolio of natural gas fuel customers across the country.

Trucking:

Clean Energy Opened the first LNG fueling station in Florida and its Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Fontana, Calif., Stations, All Part of America’s Natural Gas Highway

• Clean Energy opens its public-access Jacksonville LNG fueling station, the first in the State, making Jacksonville a key stop in America’s Natural Gas Highway and the LNG gateway to Southern Florida.
• Representatives from United Parcel Service (UPS) and Raven Transport, which will be fueling at the Jacksonville station, will be speaking at a grand opening ceremony later today.

“The opening of the Jacksonville station, the very first LNG station in the State of Florida, is a win for Jacksonville as it represents a greener fueling option and continued economic activity in the important and growing field of natural gas. My administration is committed to supporting innovators like Clean Energy that drive investment and job creation with a 21st Century vision in Jacksonville.” said The Alvin Brown, Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida.

Transit:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Plans to Convert Entire Bus Fleet to CNG and Signs Multi-year Agreement with Clean Energy to Maintain DART’s Four CNG Fueling Stations

• DART plans to deploy 580 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to support its transportation service for the greater-Dallas-area. Once fully deployed, these vehicles are forecasted to use approximately seven million gasoline-gallon-equivalents (GGEs) per year.
• Clean Energy designed and built the four CNG fueling stations for the DART network in 2012.

“DART is one of the largest transit fleets in Texas, operating in 13 cities and covering 700 square miles. By transitioning our entire fleet to CNG and contracting with Clean Energy, we are able to offer our nearly 40 million annual bus customers a more sustainable and cost-efficient transit experience.” said Mike Hubbell, vice president of maintenance, Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Refuse:

Smithtown, New York, Renews Natural Gas Contract with Clean Energy for Seven More Years

• In 2006, Smithtown became the first community on the East Coast to require all residential refuse and recycling contractors to use natural gas powered trucks. As a result, four private collection contractors operating on behalf of Smithtown and the Town’s own municipal vehicle fleet began fueling with Clean Energy.
• The 25 compressed natural gas vehicles serving Smithtown are expected to consume approximately 250,000 GGEs of CNG per year.

“In 2006, Smithtown saw the potential of natural gas in a way many other communities were still discovering. Making the switch to natural gas has proven to be a smart investment from both an economic and environmental perspective. We look forward to continuing a very successful relationship with Clean Energy.” said Russell K. Barnett, environmental protection director, Smithtown, New York.

An insider’s look at what this means for the Alternative Fuel Industry from Clean Energy’s President and CEO, Andrew J. Littlefair said: “We’ve begun the year with important expansions in our nationwide network including the opening of the first LNG station in Florida today. Florida has taken several steps to support the adoption of natural gas vehicles and we’re expanding the necessary infrastructure accordingly to support this forward-looking state. Heavy-duty truck fleets have also begun filling up at our Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Fontana, Calif., stations as the heavy-duty trucking segment continues its transition to natural gas across the country. The New Year also saw longtime customers such as DART and the city of Smithtown sign new fueling contracts with Clean Energy, which is a welcome way to kick off 2014.”

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LNG World News Staff, January 15, 2014; Image: Clean Energy